Windsurfing near Bethany RSVR
- Shadow Cliffs (23 km)
- Lake Del Valle (23 km)
- Sherman Isl County Park (34 km)
- Sherman Island-The Access (34 km)
- sherman island (35 km)
Nearby Windguru Forecasts
I checked this place out on Saturday when the weather forecasted a 15-20mph southwest wind in Berkeley. The wind at the Bethany Reservoir was ripping at 30-40mph and extremeley gusty and shifty. It seemed to come mainly from the NW. It bent around the hills and trees and varied significantly in strength and direction.
In addition to challenging winds, the best windsurfing launch (with accessible parking) is a boat launch that is typically straight upwind in a narrow 100ft wide channel. The launch is also at the confluence of two streams which create a significant downwind current away from the launch. Very tricky to get upwind once you get near the boat launch. I ended up swimming the last 40 ft upwind.
In summary: strong gusty variable winds, strong current, very narrow reach, rocky upwind launch and very little rigging area make this a challenging site for windsurfers. However, smooth water and strong wind make this a great place to practice jibes as long as you can make your way back up wind. Not a great spot for kiters.